Young musicians across the county have the chance to learn from Road to V and Live and Unsigned winners Underline the Sky when the Love Music Live tour starts today.

Now in its third year, but the first county-wide tour run by Archant, publishers of The Evening Star, the Ipswich indie rockers will visit 15 schools from until November 3.

Students aged 14-18 will get to take part in curriculum relevant workshops that also aim to help get new bands and solo performers off to the best start possible.

Topics covered will include modern-day music, business, songwriting, performance and image.

The schools taking part are: Amberfield, today; Royal Hospital School, October 6; Stowupland High School, October 7; Westbourne School, October 10; Ipswich School, October 11; Stowmarket High School, October 12; Ipswich Academy, October 13; Ipswich High School, October 14; St Albans, October 17; Northgate High, October 18; Thurston, October 20; Farlingaye High School, October 31; Holbrook High School, November 1; St Joseph’s, November 2 and Stoke on November 3.

It will end with an awards night at the Ipswich Corn Exchange on Thursday, November 17, where ten of the 15 school bands that have taken part in the tour will compete in various categories from best image and best sound to best performance.

Up for grabs is �500 of music equipment for the winner’s school, courtesy of sounds plus.

Underline the Sky - Bronwyn Cooper, James Hicks, Dan Oaten and Tom Bryce – will perform on the night.

“Seeing as I’ve run three school tours in three years I am very much used to the mad rush leading up to an event with so many dates and so many locations,” says tour manager Sam Robson.

“I thrive on this kind of business and very much look forward to seeing what young musical talent Ipswich and the surrounding areas has to offer.”

Gemma Martino, head of music at Farlingaye High School, says music is a very important part of the curriculum.

“Students are looking forward to working with Undreline the Sky to develop their musicianship and understanding of the elements of performing in a pop idiom. The afternoon will be the opportunity for our students to enjoy a concert by a local band as part of our fortnight focus week.

“Music is a popular subject with a thriving extra curricular programme and it is lovely to be able to offer events like this to our students.”